Sweet Abduction by Sasha Gold

respect for him. His group is one of the primary charities I support.”
    “Oh my God!”
    I’m stunned by this revelation, but Charlotte is nearly hysterical.
    “I can’t wait to tell Daddy. He will be so…”
    In all the time I’ve known Charlotte I’ve never known her to be at a loss for words. But I know what just happened. She realizes her father might not even know who Riley is, and she knows Riley’s career is so counter to her father’s mission in life that her brain gears don’t know which way to turn.
    “Excited!” she finally says.
    The Italian director is grousing that his actor has left the set. He’s gesturing wildly and his minions are running to and fro to do his bidding.
    “I have to do a few shots on my own and then they’re going to take some with you and me together,” Riley tells me.
    “Are we still doing that,” I ask. “I don’t like being in front of the camera.”
    “I want to show everyone my pretty girl,” he says.
    “That is the sweetest and romantic thing I’ve ever heard,” Charlotte says with a sigh. “You’re not half-bad, despite your caveman ways.”
    He arches a brow. “And you’re not half-bad despite your taste in men.”
    Charlotte waves her hand. “Dane is a work in progress.”
     
    “I’m not a model, Riley.”
    Charlotte smacks my shoulder. “Oh come on! You are not going to turn this down! If your boyfriend wants to take a picture with you, you’re going to do it. You’ll be awesome. Such a pretty couple.”
    Boyfriend…I stare at Charlotte and realize I haven’t really told her the truth. That I’m already married. She just landed a few hours ago and must not have heard about us marrying in his home. She can be bitchy and bossy but I’m sure it would hurt her feelings if she knew. Charlotte and I have spent so much time together over the last month. We’ve grown close but I can’t tell her. Not yet. I’m not sure who she would hurt more, me or Riley.
    Riley smiles and motions to a hallway. “Go to the second room on the right. Ask for Vera. I talked to her and she’s got some stuff she brought for you.”
    My mouth goes dry. I’m used to handling promotional stuff, sending out breezy public service announcements, organizing events and publicity. Stuff like that I can get into, but I’ve never been the focus of any of that. I don’t like having the camera trained on me.
    Charlotte gives me a shove. “Go on. Don’t be such a chicken. This will be awesome.”
    She grabs my arm and practically drags me away. I look back over my shoulder and Riley’s smiling at me. He holds out his hand and pretends to sign something. It’s a reminder that I agreed, in writing, to help him with the pre-fight promo. When I signed the agreement, I never envisioned any of this.
    The dressing room is cramped, filled with racks and mirrors and bright lights.
    Vera, a short, middle-aged woman, sits me down and the next thing I know no less than three stylists are working me over. My hair gets set in hot rollers. My nails receive a coat of polish and my face gets about an inch of makeup spackled on.
    Charlotte is a kid in a candy shop. She mostly stands back and gives soft murmurs of approval or thumbs up, but when they zip me into a red dress that’s two sizes too small, she whoops.
    “Holy shitballs, sister! That dress was meant for you!”
    I look in the mirror and hardly recognize myself. The dress molds to my body and my boobs practically spill over the top.
    Vera frowns. “The underwear.”
    “What’s wrong?” I ask.
    The matching bra and panty set are the same color as the dress and I have to say they’re pretty damn sexy. When I slipped into the dressing room to change, I took half a moment to admire the way they looked, so different from the beige color I usually prefer.
    “The panties need to go,” Vera says.
    “Totally agree,” Charlotte says. “No VPL. Good call, Vera.”
    There’s a knock at the door. “How much longer, Vera?”